My kitchen backsplash peeled off 2 weeks after I installed it, what did I do wrong?

So I finally got around to doing that peel and stick tile backsplash in my rental (with permission, obviously). Spent about $60 on the cheap ones from the hardware store near my place in Phoenix. Followed the instructions, cleaned the wall with rubbing alcohol, let it dry, pressed each tile down hard with a roller. Two weeks later I come home from work and the top row is literally hanging off the wall like a loose lip. The adhesive just gave up. I peeled the rest off before it looked worse. Turns out the wall had some old paint that was already flaking, I should have sanded it first or used a primer. My neighbor said to use construction adhesive instead, but that seems like it would ruin the tiles if I ever try to take them down. Anyone else fought with these cheap tiles? Is there a way to prep a rental wall so they actually stick without destroying the paint? I really don't want to pay my landlord the full repaint fee when I move out.

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david82126d ago

Man, my buddy Jake had the same thing happen. He ended up using a primer and it held fine.